Matrix light source with dimming

Abstract

The invention proposes a matrix light source having a plurality of elementary light sources with light-emitting semiconductor elements, and a common substrate in contact with an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit allows a brightness setpoint to be stored for each elementary light source of the matrix source, and comprises a circuit for managing the power supply for each source, allowing the brightness setpoint to be implemented without needing other external controls.

1 . A matrix light source comprising an integrated circuit and a matrix array of electroluminescent semiconductor element-based elementary light sources, wherein
 the integrated circuit is in contact with the matrix array and comprises, for at least two of the elementary light sources,   a memory element for storing a brightness setpoint to be produced by said elementary light source, the setpoint corresponding to a brightness that is between the minimum and maximum brightness able to be produced by said elementary light source, and   a circuit for managing the supply of electric power to said elementary light source, configured so as to adapt the average intensity of the electric current flowing through said elementary light source such that the apparent brightness thereof complies with said setpoint.   
     
     
         2 . The light source as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the integrated circuit comprises a dedicated memory element and a dedicated electric power supply management circuit for each of the elementary light sources. 
     
     
         3 . The light source as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electric power supply management circuit comprises a switch element for selectively supplying electricity to said elementary light source, and a circuit for generating a binary pulse width-modulated control signal, the signal serving as a control mechanism for the switch element. 
     
     
         4 . The light source as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the duty cycle and/or the amplitude of the control signal depends on the brightness setpoint. 
     
     
         5 . The light source as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the management circuit is configured so as to calculate the duty cycle of the control signal so as to correspond to a quantized value between 0 and 1, reflecting the value of the brightness setpoint to be produced by said elementary light source, the setpoint corresponding to a brightness that is between the minimum and maximum brightness. 
     
     
         6 . A lighting module comprising a control unit, a matrix light source and a circuit for driving the supply of electric power to said source, wherein the control unit is configured so as to transmit a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source to same, in that the matrix light source is as claimed in  claim 1 , and in that said brightness setpoints are recorded respectively in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources. 
     
     
         7 . The lighting module as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein it is a lighting module for a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . A method for projecting a shaded image by way of a matrix light source as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 providing a shaded digital image in a control unit, the dimensions in pixels of the image corresponding to the dimensions of the matrix source;   by way of the control unit, generating a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source and transmitting same thereto, the brightness setpoint for a given elementary light source being representative of the shade of the corresponding pixel of the digital image;   in the matrix source, recording the received corresponding brightness setpoint in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources;   by way of the matrix source, emitting, for each of the elementary light sources, a light beam whose apparent brightness complies with the received corresponding brightness setpoint.   
     
     
         9 . The light source as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the electric power supply management circuit comprises a switch element for selectively supplying electricity to said elementary light source, and a circuit for generating a binary pulse width-modulated control signal, the signal serving as a control mechanism for the switch element. 
     
     
         10 . The light source as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the duty cycle and/or the amplitude of the control signal depends on the brightness setpoint. 
     
     
         11 . The light source as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the management circuit is configured so as to calculate the duty cycle of the control signal so as to correspond to a quantized value between 0 and 1, reflecting the value of the brightness setpoint to be produced by said elementary light source, the setpoint corresponding to a brightness that is between the minimum and maximum brightness. 
     
     
         12 . A lighting module comprising a control unit, a matrix light source and a circuit for driving the supply of electric power to said source, wherein the control unit is configured so as to transmit a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source to same, in that the matrix light source is as claimed in  claim 2 , and in that said brightness setpoints are recorded respectively in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources. 
     
     
         13 . The lighting module as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein it is a lighting module for a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . A lighting module comprising a control unit, a matrix light source and a circuit for driving the supply of electric power to said source, wherein the control unit is configured so as to transmit a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source to same, in that the matrix light source is as claimed in  claim 3 , and in that said brightness setpoints are recorded respectively in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources. 
     
     
         15 . The lighting module as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein it is a lighting module for a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . A lighting module comprising a control unit, a matrix light source and a circuit for driving the supply of electric power to said source, wherein the control unit is configured so as to transmit a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source to same, in that the matrix light source is as claimed in  claim 4 , and in that said brightness setpoints are recorded respectively in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources. 
     
     
         17 . The lighting module as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein it is a lighting module for a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . A method for projecting a shaded image by way of a matrix light source as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 providing a shaded digital image in a control unit, the dimensions in pixels of the image corresponding to the dimensions of the matrix source;   by way of the control unit, generating a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source and transmitting same thereto, the brightness setpoint for a given elementary light source being representative of the shade of the corresponding pixel of the digital image;   in the matrix source, recording the received corresponding brightness setpoint in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources;   by way of the matrix source, emitting, for each of the elementary light sources, a light beam whose apparent brightness complies with the received corresponding brightness setpoint.   
     
     
         19 . A method for projecting a shaded image by way of a matrix light source as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 providing a shaded digital image in a control unit, the dimensions in pixels of the image corresponding to the dimensions of the matrix source;   by way of the control unit, generating a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source and transmitting same thereto, the brightness setpoint for a given elementary light source being representative of the shade of the corresponding pixel of the digital image;   in the matrix source, recording the received corresponding brightness setpoint in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources;   by way of the matrix source, emitting, for each of the elementary light sources, a light beam whose apparent brightness complies with the received corresponding brightness setpoint.   
     
     
         20 . A method for projecting a shaded image by way of a matrix light source as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the method comprises the following steps:
 providing a shaded digital image in a control unit, the dimensions in pixels of the image corresponding to the dimensions of the matrix source;   by way of the control unit, generating a brightness setpoint for each elementary light source of the matrix light source and transmitting same thereto, the brightness setpoint for a given elementary light source being representative of the shade of the corresponding pixel of the digital image;   in the matrix source, recording the received corresponding brightness setpoint in the memory elements associated with each of the elementary light sources;   by way of the matrix source, emitting, for each of the elementary light sources, a light beam whose apparent brightness complies with the received corresponding brightness setpoint.